Name: Greg Newsome II

School: Northwestern

Year: Jr

Position: Cornerback

Measurables: Height: 6000, Weight: 192 pounds

Stats: 

General Info: 

Newsome was rated a three-star prospect by ESPN and 247 Sports. He played his sophomore and junior seasons at Glenbard North High School. As a sophomore, Newsome earned first-team All-Conference honors after registering 40 tackles, six interceptions, and 13 pass breakups. In his junior season, Newsome recorded 85 tackles, three interceptions and 15 pass breakups en route to first-team All-DuPage Valley Conference. He attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida as a senior, and put up 15 tackles, two interceptions, and 15 pass breakups to help IMG to a 9-0 record.

In college, he appeared in six games with four starts in his first season. He started eight games as a sophomore and played in nine games, then played in six games as a junior for the Wildcats.

Positional Skills:

Strengths

The first thing that stands out with Newsome is his athleticism. From transitional quickness to his explosion jumping at the catch point, Newsome is a fluid player for the corner position. He’s very impressive when changing direction. He effortlessly shifts from his backpedal to closing downhill well and is great at flipping his hips to turn vertically up the boundary. Newsome also excels changing direction to work horizontally across the field.

Newsome is also a physical player. He initiates contact early in route stems and at the top of routes to make things uncomfortable for receivers. He’s a willing tackler who has good form wrapping up.

Newsome uses his length well in initiating contact as well as making plays outside his frame and at the catch point. Speaking of the catch point, Newsome has great timing to break up passes and make plays outside his frame.

Newsome’s processing speed is very good, and he reacts quickly in coverage to close and displays good route recognition skills.

In coverage, Newsome is good at staying in the hip pocket of receivers, staying in good position to close and make plays at the catch point. He has the requisite speed to carry receivers vertically and stay with them in man coverage. While Newsome is best in man coverage, his processing skills make him a fit in zone coverage schemes as well.

Weaknesses

Despite his physical nature, Newsome’s frame isn’t very filled out. He may struggle to be consistently imposing in press coverage and will struggle to get off blocks at the next level. Newsome can also get a little too physical at times which draws penalties, and that’s something that will need refinement at the next level.

Experience is a trait worth monitoring at corner more than most other positions, and Newsome has just 20 games at corner in college. He will have to continue to learn the position as he goes in the NFL. Durability is also a concern, as Newsome hasn’t played a full season yet.

Fit with the Packers:

The Green Bay Packers have a clear and obvious need at outside corner opposite Jaire Alexander, and Newsome fits the bill. He has the measurables and elite athleticism to fit the Packers’ thresholds.

It’s hard to imagine the Packers become an ultra-creative, pressure-oriented defense under Joe Barry. They will look to get pressure with four and rely on coverage, while forcing offenses to be the one to make a mistake. It’s likely there will be a mix of man and zone coverage with the Packers in 2021, and Newsome has the ability to close quickly and wrap up in zone coverage, along with great skills in man coverage, whether it be working vertically or horizontally. He’s tough, competitive, has the long speed, and is effective at the catch point. His versatility and coverage skills make perfect sense for the Packers at 29, and he is likely on that short list.